E-Twins, Bri-Sox alternate wins

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR STAFF
wholtsclaw@starhq.com
After a complete sweep on the road in Pulaski, there was one big question facing the Elizabethton Twins entering Wednesday's doubleheader at Bristol: Could they keep their momentum intact?
The answer went both ways at Boyce Cox Field as the Twins put together a nearly flawless performance, topping the White Sox 5-0 in the first game, but losing their edge and two leads in a 5-4 loss during the nightcap.
"It's pretty easy to describe this doubleheader," said Twins manager Ray Smith. "They are a good hitting club and we got good pitching in the first game from Medina and DePaula. We had good hitting and it was a well-rounded performance."
"We started out good in the second game, but their closing pitcher (Ruddy Morales) shut us down with his breaking ball. We'll take it, come back tomorrow and see what we can do."
Bristol's Paul Tisch and Elizabethton's Dennis Medina showed their stuff through the first three innings of the first outing.
However, the Twins ruined Tisch's momentum in the fourth inning when Justin Arneson led off with a single, followed by a huge two-run shot from Kyle Phillips to take the game's initial lead.
Dusty Gomon followed things up with a double for Elizabethton, scoring on a Brock Peterson hit to take a 3-0 lead.
The Twins continued to hold Bristol off defensively when Julio DePaula took over on the mound in the fourth.
With Bristol's offense under control, Jesse Collins helped Elizabethton pick apart the Sox defense with a single in the sixth inning. Ryan Spataro also took initiative with a huge shot over the right field wall, sealing a 5-0 lead for the 'Betsy Bombers.
John Lynch closed things out in the seventh inning for Elizabethton, winding out their victory.
The second game began like the first ended for Elizabethton, when Angelo Fermin singled and stole second. Phillips decided to crank his bat again, putting another ball over the right field wall with his second two-run homer of the night.
Elizabethton pitcher Chris Schutt put together a solid ten strikeout performance, but got into some trouble in the third inning when Scott Martin advanced on a wild strikeout and Jhonny Rivera made it on with an error.
It set up a two-run single from Leonardo Luna, tying things up for Bristol.
Elizabethton struck back with an errored shot from Brock Peterson, who scored on a Josh Johnson single. However, Bristol kept their momentum with an Angel Arias single, scoring on a Scott Martin triple to tie it back up.
Luna came up big again for the Sox with a single in the fifth when Melvin Perez doubled him across to take Bristol's first lead of the game.
The Twins wouldn't be outdone after Brock Peterson walked, when Justin Arneson knocked him across the plate, tying things back up.
Bristol fired right back after two outs, when Rivera singled to set up Luna, who again drove in an essential run.
Elizabethton made one final attempt at a rally in the seventh inning after Denard Span walked. Kyle Phillips hung onto some balls, but Collaro made a clutch dive and catch on a shot, keeping things in the Western Division intact.
"It stayed out there and I got it," said Collaro of his game-winning catch. "This was a big win for us. Elizabethton's a great team and it shows us what we're capable of."
Arneson, Phillips and Johnson all led Elizabethton with two hits apiece in the doubleheader, while Melvin Perez paced Bristol with his three.